Egwin

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Egwin (d. 720?) (also Ecgwin, Ecgwine and Eegwine) was the third Bishop of Worcester. He was the founder of the Evesham Abbey His biographers say that king, clergy, and commonalty all united in demanding his elevation as bishop; but the popularity which led him to the episcopal office dissipated in response to his performance as bishop.^{[citation needed]}

Egwin struggled with the local population over the acceptance of Christian morality; especially Christian marriage and clerical celibacy

Egwin's stern discipline created a resentment which, as King Æthelred of Mercia was his friend, eventually found its way to his ecclesiastical superiors. Egwin undertook a pilgrimage to seek vindication from the Roman Pontiff himself. According to a legend, he prepared for his journey by locking shackles on his feet, and throwing the key into the River Avon. While he prayed before the tomb of the Apostles, at Rome, one of his servants brought him this very key — found in the maw of a fish that had just been caught in the Tiber. Egwin then released himself from his self-imposed bonds and straightway obtained from the pope an authoritative release from the load of obloquy which his enemies had striven to fasten upon him.

One of the last important acts of his episcopate was his participation in the first great Council of Clovesho. According to Jean Mabillon, he died on 20 December, 720, though his death may have occurred three years earlier.